Wynnchurch Capital Invests in Handgards

ROSEMONT, Ill.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Wynnchurch Capital, L.P. (“Wynnchurch”), announced today that it has acquired Handgards, LLC (“Handgards” or the ​“Company”) from Wind Point Partners in partnership with management. Headquartered in El Paso, Texas, Handgards is a leading distributor of foodservice products, including disposable gloves, reclosable bags, tabletop items, expendables, and other carryout products. The Company operates eight facilities with over one million square feet of space and ships over 18 million cases of product annually.

“From our first meeting with Wynnchurch, I knew we had found a fantastic partner for our next chapter of growth,” said Joe Kubicek, CEO of Handgards. “Wynnchurch brings significant commercial and operational expertise in distribution and has substantial resources to support Handgards’ growth plans. Importantly, they also share our core values of providing best-in-class service and quality products to our customers.”

Greg Gleason, Managing Partner at Wynnchurch, said, “We are thrilled to partner with Joe and the Handgards team to build on their impressive and long track record of success. The Company's value proposition, diversified service offering, and long-standing relationships make Handgards a great fit with our investment philosophy.”

Carl Howe, Principal at Wynnchurch, added, “Handgards has built a reputation as a leading provider of critical safety and disposable products to the foodservice market. We are pleased to partner with the Handgards team to build on the Company’s momentum and pursue acquisitions and new opportunities for growth.”

Houlihan Lokey acted as financial advisor, and Foley & Lardner LLP acted as legal advisor, to Wynnchurch.

Wynnchurch manages a number of private equity funds with $9.2 billion of regulatory assets under management and is actively seeking investments. In September 2023, Trimlite, a Wynnchurch portfolio company, acquired Francis-Schulze Company, a leading value-added distributor of exterior door products and hardware. Other recent investments include: FloWorks, a distributor of critical flow control products; Industrial Service Solutions, a national provider of MRO-focused field, shop, and supply services; and FCA, a leading manufacturer of customized industrial protective packaging solutions.

About Handgards:

Handgards, headquartered in El Paso, Texas, is a leading distributor of foodservice products, including disposable gloves, reclosable bags, tabletop items, expendables, and other carryout products. In the past two years, Handgards acquired two companies, Fineline Settings and Emi Yoshi, and has successfully integrated these two businesses. The Company operates eight facilities with over one million square feet of space and ships over 18 million cases of product annually. For more information, please visit: www.handgards.com.

About Wynnchurch Capital:

Wynnchurch Capital, L.P., headquartered in the Chicago suburb of Rosemont, Illinois, with an affiliate in Canada, was founded in 1999 and is a leading middle-market private equity investment firm. Wynnchurch’s strategy is to partner with middle market companies in the United States and Canada that possess the potential for substantial growth and profit improvement. Wynnchurch manages a number of private equity funds with $9.2 billion of regulatory assets under management and specializes in recapitalizations, growth capital, management buyouts, corporate carve-outs, and restructurings. For more information, please visit: www​.wyn​nchurch​.com or follow us on LinkedIn.